Survival Strategies: A Behaviorist Perspective on The Maze Runner’s Main Character by James Dashner

Abstract

James Dashner’s The Maze Runner is a young adult science fiction novel that vividly portrays the psychological dynamics of survival under extreme conditions. This study examines the main character, Thomas, through the lens of behaviorist theory, with a particular focus on B.F. Skinner’s principles of operant conditioning. The research aims to identify the specific physical and psychological challenges Thomas encounters and to analyze how his survival strategies are shaped by behavioral responses to reinforcement and punishment. Employing a descriptive qualitative method within the framework of literary psychology, this study analyzes Thomas’s actions, decisions, and adaptive strategies as depicted in key narrative events. Data is drawn from direct quotations in the novel and supported by relevant scholarly literature on behaviorism. The findings demonstrate that Thomas’s behavior is continuously conditioned by his environment: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and both positive and negative punishment play crucial roles in his learning process and decision-making throughout the narrative. This analysis highlights how Dashner’s novel illustrates core concepts of behaviorism and shows that Thomas’s survival is not merely instinctive but systematically shaped by stimulus-response patterns. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how literary characters can be examined through psychological theories, offering insights into the interaction between narrative structure and behavioral conditioning.